Updated April 2026 — PR1 reopened

Madeira Trail Reservations & Fees 2026

Several of Madeira's most popular trails now require advance booking through the SIMplifica government platform. This guide explains which trails are affected, how much they cost, and exactly how to book — including the step-by-step process for visitors unfamiliar with the system.

Why does Madeira charge trail fees?

IFCN (Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza) introduced the reservation system to manage visitor numbers on the most heavily used trails, fund maintenance and ranger services, and protect the laurisilva UNESCO World Heritage forest. The fees are used directly for trail upkeep — PR1 carries a higher fee to cover the cost of rebuilding after the 2024 wildfires closed the route for 18 months.

Trails requiring reservation

Trail	Fee	Platform	Direction	Notes
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro	€10.50	SIMplifica	One-way only (Areeiro → Ruivo → Achada)	Reopened April 2026 after 2024 wildfire closure. Weekend-only in May.

Other IFCN-managed trails cost €4.50 per person. Check SIMplifica for current reservation requirements — the system is expanding.

How to book through SIMplifica

SIMplifica is the Madeiran government's online booking platform. The process takes about 10 minutes once you have an account.

Go to SIMplifica

Visit simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. If the page loads blank, connect via a VPN set to Portugal — the platform sometimes blocks non-Portuguese IP addresses.

Create an account

Register with your email address. You'll need to verify your email before booking. The interface is in Portuguese — use your browser's built-in translation if needed.

Search for the trail

Search by PR number (e.g., "PR1") or trail name. Select the correct trail from the results — confirm the start and end points match your plan.

Select date and time slot

Choose your date and preferred entry window. Time slots fill quickly for weekends in summer. If slots are full, try checking again at midnight — cancellations are released.

Pay online

Pay by credit/debit card or MB Way (Portuguese mobile payment). The transaction is processed immediately. No cash payment is possible on the trail.

Save your PDF confirmation

Download the PDF confirmation and save it to your phone. IFCN rangers check reservations at the trailhead. They scan the QR code — you do not need to print it.

PR1 Vereda do Areeiro — special rules

Reopened April 27, 2026

One-way only — you must walk from Pico do Arieiro to Achada do Teixeira. Walking the reverse direction is not permitted. Plan your transport accordingly — the start and end points are 18 km apart by road.

Fee: €10.50 — higher than the standard €4.50 trail fee. The extra levy covers the cost of rebuilding the trail after the August 2024 wildfires destroyed significant sections. The trail was closed for 18 months during reconstruction.

Weekend-only access during May 2026 — while infrastructure continues to stabilise after reopening, access is restricted to weekends only through May 2026. Full daily access is expected from June 2026. Check SIMplifica for the latest schedule.

Shuttle return from Achada do Teixeira — a shuttle service runs between Achada do Teixeira (the trail endpoint) and Santana village, where you can connect back towards Funchal. Check current shuttle schedules through local operators — they are not run by IFCN.

Read the full PR1 trail guide

Fee breakdown

Trail type	Fee	Notes
Standard IFCN trail	€4.50	Most levada and mountain trails
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro	€10.50	Includes infrastructure levy (rebuilt after 2024 fires)
Children under 12	Free	On most trails — confirm on SIMplifica
Residents of Madeira	Reduced	Regional ID required at booking

SIMplifica not loading?

The SIMplifica platform (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt) loads unreliably from non-Portuguese IP addresses. If you see a blank page or connection error, connect to a VPN set to Portugal and try again. Free VPN services with a Portugal server (ProtonVPN, Windscribe) work for this purpose. Once your booking is confirmed, you no longer need the VPN.